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David R. Zook

Chair - Faegre Drinker Consulting

Overview

Dave Zook advises private and public sector clients on federal strategy, regulatory and legislative matters. He focuses on policy and program objectives in the health, higher education and research arenas, with a national reputation for building complex collaboratives. Dave also serves as leader of the firm-wide government and regulatory affairs group.

Dave has three decades of experience delivering client accomplishments with the Executive Branch and Congress. His knowledge of substance, process and decision-makers informs a results-driven approach, along with the seasoned ability to guide clients and teams of colleagues in execution. In the life sciences domain, Dave is recognized for driving innovative therapy development and access initiatives to help address unmet medical need.

As a firm leader, Dave emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach to talent development and client service. The government and regulatory affairs group he manages is comprised of focused practice teams operating at the intersection of client interests and government at all levels.

Related Experience

Dave earlier served as associate counsel to the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, where he focused on energy research and nuclear defense matters across the National Labs. He also worked in legislative and communications positions for three members of Congress. Later, Dave was a senior executive of a nationwide health organization and established its public policy and advocacy function.

To enrich his professional pursuits, Dave volunteers with a wide array of organizations. He has served as a board member of the National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention (past chair), the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, the Gerontological Society of America, the Consortium for Southeast Healthcare Quality, the National Association of Graduate-Professional Students (past advisory board chair) and the Indiana Society of Washington, DC (past president).

Insights & Events

Other Perspectives
  • Health Policy Legislative Landscape May Remain Frozen
    Republished in Law360, Jan. 30, 2024
  • Health care’s rising helium fears
    POLITICO Pulse, Jan. 26, 2024
  • The Impact of Policy on Life Sciences & Healthcare Innovation
     
    Keynote presenter, Indianapolis, IN, November 2018
  • From Approval to Coverage – FDA and CMS Jurisdiction Lines
    Moderator, Food and Drug Law Institute, September 2018
  • Specialty Care in the World of Value — A New Reality
    Moderator, Ochsner Value Summit, New Orleans, LA, November 2017
  • National Opioids Policy Discussion Forum
    Co-facilitator, USP, Washington, D.C., August 2017
  • Medication-Assisted Treatment Access Roundtable
    Co-facilitator, Collaborative for Effective Prescription Opioid Policies, Washington, D.C., July 2017
  • Breakthrough! Walking the Thin Line Between Hope, Hype and Heartbreak in the Patient Community
    Co-presenter, FasterCures Patients Count Academy Webinar, Washington, D.C., June 2017
  • White House, Congress and Health Care: What to Expect
    Keynote presenter, National Physician Advisors Conference, Greenville, SC, April 2017
  • Federal Changes Impacting the Delivery of Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
    Co-presenter, National Rx Abuse Summit, Atlanta, GA, April 2017
  • Roundtable on Safe Opioid Use in the Acute Care Setting
    Co-facilitator, CEPOP-BD, Washington, D.C., March 2017
  • Health on the Hill
    The ALS Association Advocacy Fly-In, Washington, D.C., February 2017
  • Access to Emerging Therapies Forum
    Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy Annual Advocacy Conference, Washington, D.C., February 2017
  • The Potential Impact of a New Administration on CMMI
    COSEHC Practice Transformation Network Annual Meeting, Tampa, February 2017
  • Building a Culture of Health at the Community Level
    National Forum Annual Conference for Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention, Washington, D.C., October 2016
  • The Impact of Patient Input on R&D
    Panelist, Colorado Life Science Innovation Forum, Denver, August 2016
  • Patient Facilitated Drug Development
    Moderator, Boston Children’s Hospital Advocacy Series, July 2016
  • Patient Engagement in the FDA Process
    Co-presenter, Food and Drug Law Institute Annual Conference, May 2015
  • Creating an FDA Guidance Document for ALS Drug Development
    Co-presenter, ALS Association Collaboration for a Cure, April 2015

Leadership & Community

Professional Associations

  • District of Columbia Bar Association
  • American Bar Association

Civic Activities

  • National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention — Past Chair
  • Consortium for Southeastern Hypertension Control — Board Member
  • National Association of Graduate-Professional Students — National Advisory Board (Chair)

Firm Leadership

  • Leader, Government & Regulatory Affairs Practice Group, 2020-present

Honors

  • BTI Consulting Group — BTI Client Service All-Star, 2022
Awards Methodology
No aspect of these recognitions has been approved by the highest court of any state.